Portraits & Designs
Why were certain individuals
chosen to be pictured on our paper
currency?
What portraits are found on
United States paper currency that is in
circulation today? Whose portraits were
included on currency notes that are no longer
produced?
What is the significance of
the symbols on the back of the one-dollar
bill? I'm particularly interested in the eye
and the pyramid.
What is the significance of
the series date on our currency? Doesn't the
date change each year as it does with
coins?
What States are shown on the
back of the five-dollar bill?
Why are the designs on our paper money being changed?
 As with our nation's coinage, the Secretary of
the Treasury usually selects the designs
shown on United States currency. Unless
specified by an Act of Congress, the
Secretary generally has the final approval.
This is done with the advice of Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP)
officials. In addition, the Commission on
Fine Arts reviews all of the designs.
The law prohibits portraits of living
persons from appearing on Government
Securities. Therefore, the portraits on our
currency notes are of deceased persons whose
places in history the American people know
well.
The basic face and back designs of all
denominations of our paper currency in
circulation today were selected in 1928,
although they were modified to improve
security against counterfeiting starting in
1996. A committee appointed to study such
matters made those choices. The only
exception is the reverse design of the
one-dollar bill. Unfortunately, however, our
records do not suggest why certain Presidents
and statesmen were chosen for specific
denominations.
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United States currency notes now in
production bear the following portraits:
George Washington on the $1 bill, Thomas
Jefferson on the $2 bill, Abraham Lincoln on
the $5 bill, Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill,
Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, Ulysses S.
Grant on the $50 bill, and Benjamin Franklin
on the $100 bill.
There are also several denominations of
currency notes that are no longer produced.
These include the $500 bill with the portrait
of William McKinley, the $1,000 bill with a
portrait of Grover Cleveland, the $5,000 bill
with a portrait of James Madison, the $10,000
bill with a portrait of Salmon P. Chase, and the
$100,000 currency note bearing a portrait of
Woodrow Wilson.
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The eye and the pyramid shown on
the reverse side of the one-dollar bill are
in the Great Seal of
the United States. The Great Seal was
first used on the reverse of the one-dollar
Federal Reserve note in 1935. The Department
of State is the official keeper of the Seal.
They believe that the most accurate
explanation of a pyramid on the Great Seal is
that it symbolizes strength and durability.
The unfinished pyramid means that the United
States will always grow, improve and build.
In addition, the "All-Seeing Eye" located
above the pyramid suggests the importance of
divine guidance in favor of the American
cause. The inscription ANNUIT COEPTIS
translates as "He (God) has favored our
undertakings," and refers to the many
instances of Divine Providence during our
Government's formation. In addition, the
inscription NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM translates as
"A new order of the ages," and signifies a
new American era.
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A new series will result from a change in the Secretary of the Treasury, the Treasurer of the United States, and/or a change to the note's appearance such as a new currency design. After the Secretary of the Treasury changes, a new series year is adopted. When the Treasurer of the United States changes, a suffix letter is added to the series year (e.g. 1999A). Additional changes of the Treasurer, whereby the Secretary of the Treasury remains the same results in subsequent letter changes to the current series year (e.g. 1999B, 1999C, etc.). On newly designed notes, the series year may appear on the right or the left of the note’s face side. The year in which the currency is actually printed is not indicated on the note. Beginning with Series 1996 Federal Reserve notes, there are two prefix letters to the serial number. The first prefix letter indicates the series year. The second prefix letter indicates the issuing Reserve Bank.
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The vignette on the reverse of the
five-dollar bill depicts the Lincoln
Memorial. You may be aware that, engraved on
that Memorial are the names of the 48 states
in 1922, which was the year the Memorial was
dedicated. There are engravings of 26 State
names on front of the building, which appears
on the note vignette. As a result, only 26 of
the States appear on the note.
The upper frieze of the Memorial bears the
States of Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas,
Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota,
Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada,
Nebraska, Colorado, and North Dakota. The
lower Frieze lists the States of Delaware,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia,
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland,
Virginia, and New York. In addition, the
engravings show the abbreviated names
"Hampshire" (for New Hampshire) and
"Carolina" (for South Carolina). We have no
information why the prefixes for these states
were not used.
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To protect your hard-earned money, the U.S. government expects to redesign its currency every seven to 10 years. Counterfeiting of U.S. currency has been kept at low levels through a combination of improvements in security features, aggressive law enforcement and education efforts to inform the public about how to check their currency.
The United States government continues issuing currency with enhanced designs and security features. A new $10 note was issued on March 2, 2006. This redesigned currency is safer, smarter and more secure:
Safer because it is harder to fake and easier to check; Smarter to stay ahead of tech-savvy counterfeiters; and, More Secure to protect the integrity of U.S. currency.
The most noticeable difference in the new designs is the introduction of subtle background colors, which makes it more burdensome for potential counterfeiters because it adds complexity to the note. The addition of color also makes it easier to distinguish between denominations because different background colors are used for each denomination.
Despite the addition of color, the redesigned notes preserve the distinct size, look and feel of traditional American currency – the world’s most familiar and circulated currency.
The Department of the Treasury has historically continued to honor previous designs of our currency. Furthermore, the Department has never recalled currency when introducing a new design. There are billions of dollars in U.S. currency circulating worldwide. Any new design, when issued, would enter circulation in a deliberate and organized way, avoiding any recall or exchange. This will ensure the continued confidence of people in the value of the U.S. currency they now possess.
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Last Updated:
July 2, 2007
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Why
were certain individuals chosen to be
pictured on our paper currency?
